Forget about all the other times he considered retirement and held a big sale. Forget about the storefront sign that's been posted for many months at his downtown carpet store thanking Sarnians for their patronage.

This is really it!

Over the last 50 years, Dermentjian has proven his staying power through good times and bad in the oriental rug and broadloom business.

Many might say he's been advertising a perennial retirement sale without really meaning to retire. But he flatly denies it.

What he will admit, however, is that he's now 82 and has been trying to take a back seat to the business since 1990. That's the year his son, Diran, took over. At that point, the advertisements started announcing big sales in honour of Dermentjian's retirement.

In fact, for the next 12 years, he says he was semi-retired. But a few years ago, Diran left for Vancouver to pursue another venture and his father took back full possession of the business.

"That's why there have been so many retirement sales," Dermentjian insisted during an interview a few days ago. "I was always thinking about retirement. Yet I never did it."

Then he looked me straight in the eye and said, "Cathy, you are the first I'm going to tell. I have decided. I will retire this year. Before I was just thinking about it. Now I've decided."

Barring any unforeseen changes, his retirement will coincide with the 50th anniversary of Aram's Oriental Rug Gallery, an institution in Sarnia's downtown since 1958.

Dermentjian arrived in Canada from Greece in 1953. As a new immigrant, he was sponsored by a rug dealer in London and started working for him.

In Greece, Dermentjian -- who is of Armenian origin -- had worked at his father's silk factory and was a trained textiles engineer.

While working in London, one of his customers was Marshall Gowland, the mayor of Sarnia at the time.

"He invited me to Sarnia. He told me it was Canada's booming city with Imperial Oil and Dow," Dermentjian said. "I wanted to open my own store without competing with my sponsor in London so I moved here."

Besides, he said the blue water of the St. Clair and Lake Huron reminded him of Greece.

"I had no money but I had terrific faith," he said of his early days in business.

Initially, he took ownership of Hakimian Rugs on Davis Street.

Sales were always good in the 1950s, he said. "I knew the broadloom and oriental rug business and I'm a good salesman."

Sarnia's downtown was flourishing. Those were the days when all the stores remained open Friday nights and the sidewalks were crowded with shoppers.

Soon, he moved to the corner of Front and Lochiel streets on the riverside and renamed the business Aram's. Ten years later, he relocated to Christina street.

Over the years, the business switched addresses a number of times before moving into the current location at 174, 176 and 178 Christina in 1995.

By that time, the commercial area was rapidly growing in the east end of the city and downtown was struggling, said Dermentjian.

He's always been a strong proponent of getting the bus transfer stations off Christina and building a terminal.

Now, as he plans to retire, the city

is undertaking a major reconstruction of Christina, something Dermentjian welcomes and believes will be good for the downtown.

"I've never regretted a day in this business," he said. "But it's time to retire." He intends to continue his oriental rug appraisal business and former customers will still be able to get their rugs professionally cleaned.

But sales will soon be over and all those proclamations that Aram is retiring will finally come true.

He plans to do some travelling with his wife and enjoy time with his family.

Some may be skeptical when they notice the retirement sales this summer.

But this time, he says he's not just thinking about it. He's decided.

Student opens own business

She's the sole employee, does her own books, takes all the appointments and is her own boss.

Racquel Creces is only 16 and already has her own business.

Racquel's Pet Care Services is available this summer to walk your dog, watch your pets while you're on vacation, even clean the litter box.

Creces is a Grade 11 graduate from Northern Collegiate and decided she wanted to make money on her own terms.

"I always wanted to be my own boss and I love animals so I put this together," says the 16-year-old.

She does a fair amount of dog walking at about $13/hr, and pet sitting costs $10 a visit, more if she's required to stay overnight. All rates are negotiable depending on the circumstances, she said.

More information is available at racquelpetcareservices. webs.comor call 519-542-5949 or 519-402-5069.

Looking to the future

Stacey Barill grew up in Sarnia and recently won a $1,000 Global RESP from an OH Baby magazine contest. The money is for her three-year-old son Brendan and has kick-started his Global Education Trust Plan.

When registered as an RESP, the plan will grow as Brendan grows and benefit from government grants.

Stats show that fewer than half of Canadian families take advantage of those federal grants that can represent almost $10,000 over 15 years.

That's something to think about given the whopping increases in tuition and living expenses for postsecondary students in this country.

Stacey and her husband Dan say they were fortunate to have both their parents pay for their post-secondary education from their own pockets. Unfortunately, that's becoming rarer all the time. By the time their son is ready to go to university, the cost is expected to reach $110,000 for an average four year BA.

New lights co-ordinator

The Celebration of Lights has a new event co-ordinator for the summer. Chelsey Smith has been hired to line up sponsors and volunteers to help ensure the event goes off without a hitch this winter.

The 24th annual Celebration kicks off Nov. 21.

It may seem a little early to talk about the Celebration of Lights but financial commitments are needed now. Smith is looking for a total of $25,000 in sponsorship money.

The festival is also happy to welcome any new volunteers to the committees that are already at work.

If you or your company are interested in sponsoring, donating or volunteering, contact Smith at 519-344- 8422 and check out the official web-site at www.celebrationoflights.com.

New hair studio in Point

Julie Cunningham opened Oasis Hair and Body Studio on Friday in Point Edward.

She's located at 101 Michigan Ave. next to the new Suzy's Icecreamporium and Cafe.

Cunningham worked for years at Broderick-Miller and Company on Michigan and has decided to run her own shop.

After major renovations to the studio, she is working with two other stylists and an aesthetician.

Call her at 519-336-1414 or 519- 332-7060.

View from the top

Hydro One President and CEO Laura Formusa is coming to Sarnia to speak at a Chamber of Commerce event on Wednesday, July 16.

She'll be the speaker at a View From the Top luncheon series, talking about a reliable and safe electrical system, The Smart Grid/networks and the new era of a clean generation.

Chamber Members pay $25 plus GST and non-members pay $35 plus GST.

The luncheon is at the Best Western Guildwood Inn from noon to 1:15 p. m.

Call the Chamber for more information at 519-336-2400.

Your Business is a weekly feature about what's happening in the local business community. If you have an idea for a story, contact Cathy Dobson at 519-344- 2112 ext. 2233 or cdobson@theobserver.ca.